First Presbyterian Church as enjoyed a longstanding partnership with the Tabernacle Mission Soup Kitchen. From the foundation of the soup kitchen, FPC has been a part of the overall work, mission, and ministry that TMSK provides to the Greeneville/Greene County area.

Chef Mary Goldman, the mission’s kitchen supervisor, says that 20 percent of the community the soup kitchen directly serves is food-insecure. She said the mission has persevered in meeting that need and is succeeding through cooperation.

“This a group effort,” Goldman said. “This is a collective. We all do this together. We all have a piece. That’s why this organization works. People take ownership.”

She added that there are many volunteers from the community, area churches and homeschool groups that come together to support the ongoing mission.

Russo noted that volunteers — about 50 who spread their time over the course of a month — are one of the reasons the mission has been able to grow.

“When Mary and I started, we were serving about 40 people,” Russo said. “Now, every Wednesday, with our deliveries, we serve about 225 people a week. It’s grown a whole lot. We have four delivery routes and deliver to almost 100 people now.”